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UK PM Leaves 8-Year-Old Daughter In Bar (12th June, 2012)

British newspapers have revealed that Prime Minister David Cameron left his eight-year-old daughter in a pub and went home, thinking the little girl was with his wife. His wife Samantha left the pub separately believing her child Nancy to be with her father. Neither Mr nor Mrs Cameron was aware they had left their child behind until they met each other at their house. Mr Cameron said he immediately phoned the pub and heard that Nancy was safe with the bar staff. She was in the toilet when the Camerons left a few minutes apart in different cars. Mr Cameron's spokeswoman said "the prime minister and Samantha were distraught when they realized Nancy wasn't with them".

The incident has sparked a debate in Britain about Cameron's parenting skills. Newspapers are also pointing the finger at who was to blame. Many say the prime minister's security team should have been more aware of where the UK leader's children were. A spokesperson said there "are security arrangements in place for the prime minister's family," but provided no further details on the type of protection given to the PM's wife and children. Most newspapers are sympathetic towards the Camerons, saying it is a terrifying mistake that happens to many parents. The Guardian, however, suggested Mr Cameron was too relaxed at a time when most of his people were suffering economic hardships.

WARM-UPS

1. PARENTING: Walk around the class and talk to other students about Parenting. Change partners often. Sit with your first partner(s) and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words from the article are most interesting and which are most boring.

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. KIDS: What's different as kids grow? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners and share what you wrote. Change and share again.

Kids' age

Cute things

Not-so-cute things

0 - 2

3 - 6

7 - 10

11 - 14

15 - 17

18+

4. IRRESPONSIBLE: Students A strongly believe parents who forget a child in a pub are irresponsible; Students B strongly believe they're not; that these things happen. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

6. DAUGHTER: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word 'daughter'. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

The British Prime Minister's daughter stayed in a bar to have a drink.

T / F

b.

The PM and his wife didn't really know where their daughter was.

T / F

c.

The couple realized their daughter was missing 15 minutes later.

T / F

d.

The Camerons were distraught once they knew where their child was.

T / F

e.

All British newspapers have attacked David Cameron's skill as a father.

T / F

f.

The article says Mr Cameron has fired his security team.

T / F

g.

A Cameron spokesperson detailed the PM's security arrangements.

T / F

h.

One newspaper suggested the PM shouldn't be having fun in pubs.

T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1.

revealed

a.

straightaway

2

separately

b.

pain

3.

aware

c.

upset

4.

immediately

d.

independently

5.

distraught

e.

plans

6.

pointing the finger

f.

conscious of

7.

arrangements

g.

understanding

8.

sympathetic

h.

accusing

9.

terrifying

i.

disclosed

10.

hardships

j.

frightening

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1.

Samantha left the

a.

skills

2

Mrs Cameron was aware they had

b.

apart

3.

Nancy was safe

c.

a debate

4.

the Camerons left a few minutes

d.

they realized

5.

distraught when

e.

towards the Camerons

6.

The incident has sparked

f.

left their child behind

7.

parenting

g.

pub separately

8.

security

h.

hardships

9.

Most newspapers are sympathetic

i.

arrangements

10.

suffering economic

j.

with the bar staff

WHILE READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words into the gaps in the text.

British newspapers have (1) ____________ that Prime Minister David Cameron left his eight-year-old daughter in a pub and went home, (2) ____________ the little girl was with his wife. His wife Samantha left the pub (3) ____________ believing her child Nancy to be with her father. Neither Mr nor Mrs Cameron was (4) ____________ they had left their child behind (5) ____________ they met each other at their house. Mr Cameron said he (6) ____________ phoned the pub and heard that Nancy was safe with the bar staff. She was in the toilet when the Camerons left a few minutes (7) ____________ in different cars. Mr Cameron's spokeswoman said "the prime minister and Samantha were (8) ____________ when they realized Nancy wasn't with them".

awarethinkingapartimmediatelyrevealeddistraughtseparatelyuntil

The incident has (9) ____________ a debate in Britain about Cameron's parenting skills. Newspapers are also (10) ____________ the finger at who was to blame. Many say the prime minister's security team should have been more (11) ____________ of where the UK leader's children were. A spokesperson said there "are (12) ____________ arrangements in place for the prime minister's family," but (13) ____________ no further details on the type of protection given to the PM's wife and children. Most newspapers are (14) ____________ towards the Camerons, saying it is a terrifying mistake that happens to many parents. The Guardian, however, (15) ____________ Mr Cameron was too relaxed at a time when most of his people were suffering (16) ____________ hardships.

awaresuggestedpointingeconomicsecuritysparkedsympatheticprovided

LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps

British newspapers ____________________ Prime Minister David Cameron left his eight-year-old daughter in a pub and went home, thinking the little girl was with his wife. His wife Samantha left the pub _______________________ child Nancy to be with her father. Neither Mr nor Mrs Cameron was aware they had ______________________ until they met each other at their house. Mr Cameron ____________________ phoned the pub and heard that Nancy was safe with the bar staff. She was in the toilet when the Camerons left ____________________ in different cars. Mr Cameron's spokeswoman said "the prime minister and Samantha ______________________ they realized Nancy wasn't with them".

The incident has ____________________ in Britain about Cameron's parenting skills. Newspapers are also ____________________ at who was to blame. Many say the prime minister's ____________________ have been more aware of where the UK leader's children were. A spokesperson said there "are security arrangements ____________________ prime minister's family," but provided no further details on the ____________________ given to the PM's wife and children. Most newspapers are sympathetic towards the Camerons, saying it is a terrifying mistake that happens to many parents. The Guardian, however, suggested Mr Cameron was too relaxed at a time when most of his people _______________________ hardships.

Do you think this could happen to the child of the leader of your country?

e)

Do you understand why the newspapers are sympathetic towards David Cameron and his wife?

f)

What would you do if you suddenly realized your child wasn't with you?

g)

What's the biggest thing you've ever lost?

h)

Do you agree with the British paper who suggested Mr Cameron should not be enjoying himself in pubs while people have many problems.?

i)

What questions would you like to ask David Cameron about this incident?

LANGUAGE – MULTIPLE CHOICE

British newspapers have (1) ____ that Prime Minister David Cameron left his eight-year-old daughter in a pub and went home, thinking the little girl was with his wife. His wife Samantha left the pub (2) ____ believing her child Nancy to be with her father. Neither Mr nor Mrs Cameron was (3) ____ they had left their child behind until they met each other at their house. Mr Cameron said he immediately phoned the pub and heard that Nancy was safe with the bar (4) ____. She was in the toilet when the Camerons left a few minutes (5) ____ in different cars. Mr Cameron's spokeswoman said "the prime minister and Samantha were (6) ____ when they realized Nancy wasn't with them".

The incident has (7) ____ a debate in Britain about Cameron's parenting skills. Newspapers are also pointing the (8) ____ at who was to blame. Many say the prime minister's security team should have been more aware of where the UK leader's children were. A spokesperson said there "are security arrangements (9) ____ place for the prime minister's family," but provided (10) ____ further details on the type of protection given to the PM's wife and children. Most newspapers are sympathetic (11) ____ the Camerons, saying it is a terrifying mistake that happens to many parents. The Guardian, however, suggested Mr Cameron was too relaxed (12) ____ a time when most of his people were suffering economic hardships.

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about parenting. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. PARENTING: Make a poster about parenting. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. MISHAP: Write a magazine article about the Camerons' mishap. Include imaginary interviews with David and a parenting expert.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. LETTER: Write a letter to David Cameron. Ask him three questions about parenting. Give him three ideas on how to be a great parent. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a.

F

b.

T

c.

T

d.

T

e.

F

f.

F

g.

T

h.

T

SYNONYM MATCH:

1.

revealed

a.

disclosed

2

separately

b.

independently

3.

aware

c.

conscious of

4.

immediately

d.

straightaway

5.

distraught

e.

upset

6.

pointing the finger

f.

accusing

7.

arrangements

g.

plans

8.

sympathetic

h.

understanding

9.

terrifying

i.

frightening

10.

hardships

j.

pain

PHRASE MATCH:

1.

Samantha left the

a.

pub separately

2

Mrs Cameron was aware they had

b.

left their child behind

3.

Nancy was safe

c.

with the bar staff

4.

the Camerons left a few minutes

d.

apart

5.

distraught when

e.

they realized

6.

The incident has sparked

f.

a debate

7.

parenting

g.

skills

8.

security

h.

arrangements

9.

Most newspapers are sympathetic

i.

towards the Camerons

10.

suffering economic

j.

hardships

GAP FILL:

UK PM leaves 8-year-old daughter in bar

British newspapers have (1) revealed that Prime Minister David Cameron left his eight-year-old daughter in a pub and went home, (2) thinking the little girl was with his wife. His wife Samantha left the pub (3) separately believing her child Nancy to be with her father. Neither Mr nor Mrs Cameron was (4) aware they had left their child behind (5) until they met each other at their house. Mr Cameron said he (6) immediately phoned the pub and heard that Nancy was safe with the bar staff. She was in the toilet when the Camerons left a few minutes (7) apart in different cars. Mr Cameron's spokeswoman said "the prime minister and Samantha were (8) distraught when they realized Nancy wasn't with them".

The incident has (9) sparked a debate in Britain about Cameron's parenting skills. Newspapers are also (10) pointing the finger at who was to blame. Many say the prime minister's security team should have been more (11) aware of where the UK leader's children were. A spokesperson said there "are (12) security arrangements in place for the prime minister's family," but (13) provided no further details on the type of protection given to the PM's wife and children. Most newspapers are (14) sympathetic towards the Camerons, saying it is a terrifying mistake that happens to many parents. The Guardian, however, (15) suggested Mr Cameron was too relaxed at a time when most of his people were suffering (16) economic hardships.